The Jenners and Kardashians of this world might have popularised the belfie – that’s 'bottom selfie' – but the fashion pack has moved on to a new body part. It doesn’t involve wearing lycra or possessing impeccably sculpted glutes. Allow me to introduce – the ankle selfie.
The so-called 'ankie' owes its origin to Eva Chen, the head of fashion partnerships at Instagram, and her (practically) patented #evachenpose. For those not among her 1m followers, this involves angling the camera down to her crossed ankles, usually in the back of a car, so her shoes, bag and piece of fruit are all perfectly showcased. And it’s catching on.
The Spanish jewellery designer and influencer Blanca Miro has also mastered the ankie. One of her latest showed off a pair of caramel leather clogs and clocked up almost 5,000 likes on Instagram. Jeanette Madsen’s of her Adidas Boost x Yeezy trainers and ribbed Nike socks was more calfie than ankie as she managed to squeeze in a stretch of toned leg and the hem of her blossom-printed Ganni dress.
Its popularity is perhaps down to the fact that it requires neither a dewy complexion nor an Instagram-worthy outfit. If that fails to convince, note that throwing in an ankie also breaks up the number of selfies on your 'grid' lest you risk a reputation as a narcissist.
But it’s not quite as simple as just snapping your scuffed trainers and holding a pineapple a la Eva Chen. There’s a subtle art to the ankie and it involves choosing the right shoes and a statement pair of socks. A favourite combination of Miro’s is Alexa Chung’s Mary Jane flats and sheer socks. For the first time ankie-taker note that & Other Stories has the best range of jazzy hosiery on the high street – try their see-through pink pair with polka dots for £6 or the black with purple and pink petals.
The German street styler and Vogue columnist Veronika Heilbrunner favours tennis-style socks with patent black loafers. Akin in style, Mother Denim’s white ribbed pairwith an expletive on the left foot will make for a pleasingly tongue-in-cheek ankie with box-fresh loafers from GH Bass & Co.
A little bit of experimentation in the field has taught me that it’s wise to take your ankie from the comfort of a sofa to allow for easy leg elevation. Failing that, try planting one foot on the floor and placing the other across your knee so your ankle is in full view. I managed one of my Jet Turbo trainers from Eytys – chuffed with how the light caught the giant mid-sole and metallic trims - but in haste forgot one of my five a day.
Next time I promise,